Gotta Vent

[3ddesign]

I know this email will generate a fair amount of angry replies, but I've been stewing over this for awhile and I've decided to take the flack and post anyway.

It has to do with a thread where ipraiseg was asked to take the words "Always thanks JesusChrist" out of his signature. Apparently someone thought that "This is not an appropriate forum for that sorta stuff." He further wrote, "Thank you for removing it from your signature. Just a safety precaution."

I find it very interesting that you can have an avatar of a squirrel abusing Spidey's ear but you can't mention Jesus Christ, unless of course, you are using his name as an expletive (49 times at last count. The expletive "God" was used over 100 times).

What's going on here? And why the safety precaution? Will someone become so offended with ipraiseg's faith that they will threaten his safety? Now, if he was saying that "everyone SHOULD thank Jesus Christ," that might be one thing. But he was only saying that HE thanks Jesus Christ.

What a stale and lifeless forum this would be if no one was allowed to share anything about themselves that might be offensive to some insecure soul. Yeah, I thought the bloody computer bashing Mac user and the Spidey avatars were a bit over the top and was glad when the "attack of the duck" replaced them. But I wouldn't presume to be so self-righteous as to ask him to remove them. That is the job of the moderator, acting according to forum policies (which by the way, I haven't been able to find for this forum).

I know that it isn't hip to be Christian any longer and that people are much more willing to tolerate crude language and sexual innuendo than religious expression, but I hope that the users of this forum will be a little more open minded and a little less critical of those whose views might differ from theirs.

Craig

[DaForce]

Hi Craig,

I requested for that stuff to be taken down, but you know that.
Reason being is that around that time there was a post or 2 with some girls used as a background to a render and alot of people took offence to it. Not to mention various Michael jackson images..etc..etc...

So my comment of "safety precaution" was to ensure that kinda shit didnt happen again, not his personal safety.
This isnt a forum for posting religious, sexual or political comments. Its simple. That way it lessens the chance for people to get offended and start arguments... weither you like it or not IT HAPPENS.

[percydaman]

I say roll with it. Pretend your jewish. The jewish, historically, take great pride in their persecution. Its like it makes them feel more holy. The more your persecuted, the more holy you are.

This comes from a christian btw...

[tom182]

I gotta agree with Craig on this, unfortunatley someone taking offense to an individuals personal belief says alot more about the offended person than the person with the belief.
He can thank Big JC, Allah or the Maypole for all I care- good luck to him, I actually find it refreshing to see someone have such a strong faith- once its not rammed down my throat, which infact it wasnt.

JM2CW

Tom

[rivoli]

Pretend your jewish. The jewish, historically, take great pride in their persecution.

oh yeah. and, historically, christians took great pride in persecuting them.

[nvanherpt]

freedom of speech i say. i've always preferred to be offended than censored.

[RErender]

Wow, that stewed for a long time, well put though and I agree.

Atleast there are still those with enough conscience to be offended.

[ShaunDon]

Atleast there are still those with enough conscience to be offended.

Ahh, but there's the rub. Nobody was "offended," the take down request as quoted above was to AVOID offending people. That's the part that really makes me angry. In the land of corporate interest in media, free speech is subjugated by suits pandering to the average middle-American. Who cares how the other half of the country feels on the matter, we can't risk offending people who buy more trucks and SUVs!

It's absolutely bull for forum members or even mods to go around telling people what they should or shouldn't say about themselves. If someone in the group is offended, let them stand up and say so. Then maybe we can have a real conversation about why that particular person feels that way. But when you preemptively censor anything that a couple people MIGHT dislike, you're dangerous to me. We're all adults here, I think we can be trusted to think for ourselves.

Shaun

[3ddesign]

Thanks for the clarification DaForce. Its good to get the full picture. One of the things that attracted me to Vray was this forum. With very few exceptions, the people and posts here have been extremely professional and courteous.
I agree with DaForce that this forum should not turn into a free-for-all. That would be a shame. But at the same time, artists are more than data-bits and code. Self-expression is part of who we are. Sure, I would much prefer that fornicating squirrels and four-letter-words were not included here just as others might wish that reference to politics and religion were missing as well. But I know that the value of the forum is in the diversity of thought and personalities. Else, we are just lifeless robots. So, it made me a little sad to think that we may have moved a little too far into the Political Correctness realm. I know its a fine line between decency and obscenity, religious self expression and blatant procelyting. But my feeling is (re-enforced by the above posts) that most of the members of this forum are mature enough to know the difference.

Craig

[nvanherpt]

sweeeet. now that's all sorted what shall we argue about next?

[s0real]

sweeeet. now that's all sorted what shall we argue about next?

[DaForce]

Craig:
Not a problem.. just wanted to make sure you were on the right track with my reasons.

Its just a damn 3D forum... why cant we all just get along...

[3ddesign]

Its just a damn 3D forum... why cant we all just get along...

[Adam H. Stewart]

Ah Religion

My Grandfather who was a very successful self made businessman was a very wise man - he would never argue about religion or politics. Unfortunately I learnt nothing from him

On one hand I don't believe in censorship, believe what you want, argue your point, be in somebodies face every now and then - it's healthy and keeps you human.

On the other hand let us not forget that Religion is not the underdog here. At the moment in the States alot of people would have you believe that God has been a meek whimpering dog humbly waiting under the table of society asking for nothing but a few scraps of our affection. Like the War on Christmas !! What a fiasco.

But if you look at the facts - this could not be further from the truth. Religion has been a source of major conflict and justification for conflict in every major society in the World, and it is usually controlled and evoked by whoever is in power, this has never been truer then at this bleak moment in the North American history. I have never heard of somebody using a four letter word or a nudy picture to start a war or to rally the troops to battle. Who would rush into a hail of gunfire for a Russ Meyer film or copy of Playboy ?

How many times has God been used to justify a vile, vengful or despicable acts of cruelty? Despite the fact that the core of most religions is love and peace !! Not that great things don't come from Religious organizations, I do have a great respect for religious people, but keep God private and to yourself. In my opinion it is dangerous and ignorant to believe that religion is and can only be an innocent and benign force for good. This is simply and plainly not true.

So where do I stand ? Keep your God to yourself - Keep it out of the Schools, Out of the Government and out of the Posts, it's just too powerful and potentially destructive.

[3ddesign]

Re: Ah Religion

So where do I stand ? Keep your God to yourself - Keep it out of the Schools, Out of the Government and out of the Posts, it's just too powerful and potentially destructive.

Interesting Points, and for the most part I agree. However, Pol Pot, Mao dz Dong and Hitler didn't kill their millions in the name of god. Rather, they killed them in the name of getting someone's god out of their Schools, out of their Government, and if they had had them back then, out of their Posts as well. Now THATS a powerful and historically destrictive idea.

Craig